Truth
April 28, 2012
The world says that it is impossible to find “truth.” The news media, the world’s political establishment and even some church leaders do not subscribe to the belief in “absolute truth.” The Bible, however, has a great deal to say about “truth.”
In the New Testament, which was written in the Greek language, the word for “truth” is “aletheia” (αλήθεια). This word also means “reality.” But when one thinks about it, nothing is more “real” than the truth. So it makes sense that the word “reality” would be synonymous with “truth.”
Jesus said, regarding truth, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). This could be restated, “Then you will know the [aletheia, reality], and the [aletheia, reality] will set you free” (John 8:32).
Also, in John’s Gospel, the apostle, quoting the Lord, wrote, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus states unequivocally that He, and only He, is “the truth.” There is no wiggle room, here, for those who would say that there are “many ways to God” and that there is no “absolute truth.”
Here is the “bottom line.” If one chooses not to believe in “truth” that does not change the fact that it exists, and that it exists in the person of Jesus Christ. So my final statement would be this: “knowing the truth is knowing Jesus.”
If you are reading this post, and you don’t know Jesus as Savior and Lord, let me encourage you now to pray to receive Him into your heart. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to come live in you. Today could be the greatest day of your life.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Name Above All Names
August 12, 2011
Speaking of Jesus, the Apostle Paul wrote in the second chapter of Philippians:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus, although the Son of God, came to Earth in human form. He “lowered” Himself in order that He might show us how to live. He became our example.
By His life, He let us see how important it was to serve others. And through His humility of being a servant to humanity, He became the mold that we should pattern our lives after. Jesus was the epitome of what it means to give of oneself.
And not only did He show us how to live, He laid down that life in order that we might live eternally. Now, at the name of Jesus, the world has forgiveness of sin and escape from eternal damnation. It is only by the name of Jesus that mankind can be saved. Jesus, truly, is Lord.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Eternal Destiny
July 26, 2011
The thought that there could be a place of unending pain, regret and separation from God is an unpleasant one. The finite mind has a “hard time” with this idea. This place has been given several names, but I believe the most common one has been “hell.” Jesus spoke more frequently of this place than He did of eternal bliss or “heaven.”
Some have asked, “how could a loving God prepare a place of eternal punishment?” The answer to this question can only be found in Scripture. In the first epistle of John, the writer states, “God is love” (1 John 4:16 ). This Scripture states unequivocally that the Creator loves His creation. Even in humankind’s sinful, fallen state, God still loves. While God hates sin, He loves the sinner. This is shown in one of Paul’s writings where he says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 ). The evidence that God loves is found in Jesus’ death.
While God is love, He is also holy. The author of Revelation proclaims, “For you alone are holy” (Revelation 15:4 ). As we examine these two attributes of God (love and holiness), it helps answer the question of why a loving God could banish a soul to eternal damnation. The answer is sin. Since God is a holy God , He cannot tolerate sin. If God was “okay” with sin, there would not have been a need for Jesus’ sacrifice.
Jesus suffered an agonizing, horrible death on the cross. He was beaten, bruised and scourged. God poured His wrath out on Jesus so that we could be saved. Jesus took our place, died our death and took our punishment. He suffered unimaginable pain physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Although hell was meant only to be punishment for Satan, it too has been reserved for those who reject Christ. The author of the gospel of John writes, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The key word in that Scripture is perish. Those who reject salvation through Jesus will suffer the penalty of eternal agony in hell as a result of their error. God did not spare His Son the suffering of the cross; therefore pain will be part of the punishment of unbelievers.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Name Above All Names
July 24, 2011
Speaking of Jesus, the Apostle Paul wrote in the second chapter of Philippians:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus, although the Son of God, came to Earth in human form. He “lowered” Himself in order that He might show us how to live. He became our example.
By His life, He let us see how important it was to serve others. And through His humility of being a servant to humanity, He became the mold that we should pattern our lives after. Jesus was the epitome of what it means to give of oneself.
And not only did He show us how to live, He laid down that life in order that we might live eternally. Now, at the name of Jesus, the world has forgiveness of sin and escape from eternal damnation. It is only by the name of Jesus that mankind can be saved. Jesus, truly, is Lord.
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
